Wednesday night I went to a charity thing with MAD woman. (MAD = Making A Difference) We wrapped presents for kids and families. It was quite good and I had a great time. The woman who set this up also runs singles nights, Cooking for a Cause. I am thinking of one of those nights at the end of Jan.
Why was wrapping the presents good? Networking with other like-minded people. None of us really knew many of the others there but we were all there to have a time of it helping out a charity group make Christmas good for others. There is the whole thing of endorphins rising when you help others. Makes you feel good. the other thing that was interesting for me was the fact that I went out with no real idea of doing more than wrapping presents. I said 'hi' to a guy as I walked past him, and then he came over and talked to me for over an hour. Nothing more than that, but there were other women at the table and he pretty much ignored them. I have never really noticed that I had this 'pulling' power before.....although I wouldn't say that it was really 'pulling' power. It was really lovely to have someone just want to talk to me.
I chatted to Frogdancer about this the next day and her reply was "why wouldn't he?". That made me think..... (I have been doing a lot of that lately) and I was surprised that I didn't realise that I am an interesting person. It's a whole new thing really for me, thinking of myself as a desirable, interesting person.
Nothing has happened with the guy I met at the wrapping thing. We said goodnight to each other and that we hoped to see each other at the cooking for a cause thing.
Friday night I went to a social group function in the city. I spied a guy that i was sure had been at the wrapping thing, so I ventured over and asked him. Sure enough he had been. We sat and talked for a few hours. Again he seemed uninterested in speaking to anyone else. If we were spoken to by someone else he was polite but then resumed our conversation.
In my head I have the words of my sister in my head. "Remember that each person has their tale to tell and it is important to listen to their story."
I have been so consumed in navel gazing that I have forgotten that other people are on their own journey. There are some fascinating tales that I have been told, and once you start to listen you get more of a complete picture of the person.
The weirdest thing that has occurred in the last few days happened Sunday night. I went with some friends to Carols by Candlelight that were run by a local council. It was torrential rain and the event was cancelled - not until we got absolutely drenched through! I might appear online for the council as there was a photographer who was taking pics and we were sitting there on our own in a LOT OF WET WEATHER GEAR that was doing very little. We decided that we needed to do something to warm ourselves so we went to the local cheap pizzeria.
I arrived ahead of my mates and one of the waiters came up to me and spoke to me like he knew me and then gave me a kiss and a hug! Now, I have been to this restaurant a few times and the waiter is always friendly but NEVER touchy-feely. He is quite nice on the eye, but I don't know his name, he doesn't know mine, yet there was a moment there where it got just a little awkward.
So 6 days, and 3 times I have been made to feel like I am an interesting, desirable woman. I like this....just have to work on getting phone numbers etc and moving on just that little bit further.
Since I began, this blog has been about me....complete ramblings but always my raw thoughts......
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
oh my
I had the strangest day today.......
No - I had the most cringe worthy day ever!
First class for the day - African drumming with the Year 8s (14 year old kids). We are sitting in circle and every kids can see me.....
I pick up my large drum (djembe) and place it between my knees only to discover that between picking up my drum and putting it between my knees, I had inadvertently popped open EVERY button on my shirt. In fact I was flashing the students my entire torso! lace covered boobs and all.........
I don't know who was more shocked. I spun round on my chair and made myself decent and continued with my teaching.....all the while checking my shirt.
The shirt is cursed......I got home and opened my front door and a bloody huge spider (size of my palm) fell of the door and down the front of my shirt........
Shirt is being retired.
No - I had the most cringe worthy day ever!
First class for the day - African drumming with the Year 8s (14 year old kids). We are sitting in circle and every kids can see me.....
I pick up my large drum (djembe) and place it between my knees only to discover that between picking up my drum and putting it between my knees, I had inadvertently popped open EVERY button on my shirt. In fact I was flashing the students my entire torso! lace covered boobs and all.........
I don't know who was more shocked. I spun round on my chair and made myself decent and continued with my teaching.....all the while checking my shirt.
The shirt is cursed......I got home and opened my front door and a bloody huge spider (size of my palm) fell of the door and down the front of my shirt........
Shirt is being retired.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
what a week!
Started back at work last Wednesday - although I did go into work for 2 half days the week before to organise (or try to) my new workspace. Wednesday - Friday we had three days of preparation and PD. The PD was ok - I did hear a lot of stuff that intrigued me and made me question my teaching practice which can only be a good thing- but I found I personally thought that the all day one could have been cut down.
Thursday we heard about Generation Z (basically those 16 and under) and how to teach them. There is not much research about them - but then how can there be when many of them are not really able to make a huge contribution to the studies anyway. What we did get was a run down of the Generations from those pre WWII to those now - a brief snapshot of characteristics, influences etc. This was all quite interesting but I think it could have been cut down by half. The speaker was really fascinating, had some great insights and was passionate about her content but some of it should've been condensed. The audience came along for the ride but there were many waves of talking - some relevant, some not. Again - it could've been cut down.
The information that was most relevant, such as how to actually plan your teaching etc, I felt was almost treated like an after thought. I think this was due to the fact that so much time was spent on deciphering what makes each generation tick.
That's often the problem with getting speakers into a workplace who are not really familiar with the situation (people and context) they are addressing. Yes, they know their research but the issue is how to make the research REALLY relevant to the people they are addressing. It is probably an issue that many speakers face. Most do a good job, some are appalling but a few really get why they've been asked to address this particular crowd and then make it worthwhile for the crowd.
The speaker we had for the second half of Friday was probably much more entertaining. She was talking about how to actually see what you are doing making an effect..."Visible Learning". The basis for this was that her colleague has done a meta study of all the studies that have been done on achievement and then collated them into one study. Our speaker presented the findings in quite an entertaining way and as a result left a number of questions to be answered. She opened a can of worms and then, as she pointed out, ran away for us to clean up the mess. That mess will be an entertaining discussion - if we actually have it......
As a consequence I am thinking about who, what when and where of my teaching......the most important thing I am thinking is 'Why?'.
I would've preferred more time as a faculty though. Always the case I think, but I am working as a new Learning Area (Faculty) Manager and really would like the time to get my team firing. We have already made some huge changes in the way we operate but we had a lot of little issues to clean up from the last few years. It is so frustrating that when someone is in a position of power but then don't actually do what they are meant to do. Most of what I have done in the last few days is facilitate a discussion about policy for headphones, keyboards, room design etc. I have put my foot down every now and then but, at the moment, we are quite amicable. I don't forsee that we will move beyond that drastically.
In amongst all of this I have had HUGE car issues!
Monday night I was driving home from a friends house about 60km (still in metro region!!!!) away. The fuel emission warning light came on and stayed on.
Tuesday night was a public holiday so I couldn't do anything about this light. Wednesday I rang my mechanic and was told to drop the car up on Thursday. This I did and then found out the cause of the light.....The coil pack was misfiring and there was a fault in number 3. In my brand of car this meant having to change all 4 as they are all one unit. We are talking over A$600 to do. I took a deep breath and said ok. I understand the principles of the coil pack - to fire the cylinders that allow the car to move forward.
I picked the car up after work and set off for home. Now I live a good 30 minute drive from work, by choice as it is near the beach. I had travelled no more than 5 minutes down the road when the car stopped and every warning light came on! I was able to glide over to the kerb and get out of the way of traffic - thank goodness. I rang the mechanic, explained the situation and he came and got me. Well, he re started the car and followed me back to the garage.
He had run a few more tests on the car with his computer and it started stating that there were other issues - nothing to do with what he replaced. He had never seen this happen (fix one thing and have something else go wrong which is slightly related!) so he rang his auto electrician and the supplier of the parts. Both reported that they had had this happen once or twice before with my brand of car - but it was unusual.
Options he presented to me - take a chance and drive home and bring it back tomorrow (Friday) or leave it with him so he could start taking out the computer.....at which point I was seeing a lot of money heading his way.........
He then asked what suburb I lived in. I told him. He told me that I was NOT taking the car. No options at all. At this stage I was very, very worried and starting getting that feeling of helplessness that you get when things are out of control.....
The best thing that he then did was state that I had paid over $600 which was now a credit to me. He was starting from scratch. He didn't know what the issue was but was going to find out. This means sending the computer and the old coil pack to the car manufacturer for testing to find out what exactly is wrong. If I have to get a new computer only - then I have already paid for it. If it is both parts that need replacement then he will not charge me labour.
The worst thing is I have no car until Tuesday at the earliest. I have rescheduled all over the place for the things I was doing this weekend - leg wax, hair dye etc.
All I want is my car to be fixed and to have it back.........I might go back to planning and writing work for my classes.........it distracts me from crying over my lack of car.
Thursday we heard about Generation Z (basically those 16 and under) and how to teach them. There is not much research about them - but then how can there be when many of them are not really able to make a huge contribution to the studies anyway. What we did get was a run down of the Generations from those pre WWII to those now - a brief snapshot of characteristics, influences etc. This was all quite interesting but I think it could have been cut down by half. The speaker was really fascinating, had some great insights and was passionate about her content but some of it should've been condensed. The audience came along for the ride but there were many waves of talking - some relevant, some not. Again - it could've been cut down.
The information that was most relevant, such as how to actually plan your teaching etc, I felt was almost treated like an after thought. I think this was due to the fact that so much time was spent on deciphering what makes each generation tick.
That's often the problem with getting speakers into a workplace who are not really familiar with the situation (people and context) they are addressing. Yes, they know their research but the issue is how to make the research REALLY relevant to the people they are addressing. It is probably an issue that many speakers face. Most do a good job, some are appalling but a few really get why they've been asked to address this particular crowd and then make it worthwhile for the crowd.
The speaker we had for the second half of Friday was probably much more entertaining. She was talking about how to actually see what you are doing making an effect..."Visible Learning". The basis for this was that her colleague has done a meta study of all the studies that have been done on achievement and then collated them into one study. Our speaker presented the findings in quite an entertaining way and as a result left a number of questions to be answered. She opened a can of worms and then, as she pointed out, ran away for us to clean up the mess. That mess will be an entertaining discussion - if we actually have it......
As a consequence I am thinking about who, what when and where of my teaching......the most important thing I am thinking is 'Why?'.
I would've preferred more time as a faculty though. Always the case I think, but I am working as a new Learning Area (Faculty) Manager and really would like the time to get my team firing. We have already made some huge changes in the way we operate but we had a lot of little issues to clean up from the last few years. It is so frustrating that when someone is in a position of power but then don't actually do what they are meant to do. Most of what I have done in the last few days is facilitate a discussion about policy for headphones, keyboards, room design etc. I have put my foot down every now and then but, at the moment, we are quite amicable. I don't forsee that we will move beyond that drastically.
In amongst all of this I have had HUGE car issues!
Monday night I was driving home from a friends house about 60km (still in metro region!!!!) away. The fuel emission warning light came on and stayed on.
Tuesday night was a public holiday so I couldn't do anything about this light. Wednesday I rang my mechanic and was told to drop the car up on Thursday. This I did and then found out the cause of the light.....The coil pack was misfiring and there was a fault in number 3. In my brand of car this meant having to change all 4 as they are all one unit. We are talking over A$600 to do. I took a deep breath and said ok. I understand the principles of the coil pack - to fire the cylinders that allow the car to move forward.
I picked the car up after work and set off for home. Now I live a good 30 minute drive from work, by choice as it is near the beach. I had travelled no more than 5 minutes down the road when the car stopped and every warning light came on! I was able to glide over to the kerb and get out of the way of traffic - thank goodness. I rang the mechanic, explained the situation and he came and got me. Well, he re started the car and followed me back to the garage.
He had run a few more tests on the car with his computer and it started stating that there were other issues - nothing to do with what he replaced. He had never seen this happen (fix one thing and have something else go wrong which is slightly related!) so he rang his auto electrician and the supplier of the parts. Both reported that they had had this happen once or twice before with my brand of car - but it was unusual.
Options he presented to me - take a chance and drive home and bring it back tomorrow (Friday) or leave it with him so he could start taking out the computer.....at which point I was seeing a lot of money heading his way.........
He then asked what suburb I lived in. I told him. He told me that I was NOT taking the car. No options at all. At this stage I was very, very worried and starting getting that feeling of helplessness that you get when things are out of control.....
The best thing that he then did was state that I had paid over $600 which was now a credit to me. He was starting from scratch. He didn't know what the issue was but was going to find out. This means sending the computer and the old coil pack to the car manufacturer for testing to find out what exactly is wrong. If I have to get a new computer only - then I have already paid for it. If it is both parts that need replacement then he will not charge me labour.
The worst thing is I have no car until Tuesday at the earliest. I have rescheduled all over the place for the things I was doing this weekend - leg wax, hair dye etc.
All I want is my car to be fixed and to have it back.........I might go back to planning and writing work for my classes.........it distracts me from crying over my lack of car.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
whilst watching dr who I realised that
There are days when you know that you work with a dickhead or two. I apologise immediately for my language but my immediate boss left work on Thursday and he proved that was the most stupid man in the world.
During his farewell speech he didn't really say anything about the people he had worked with over the past 3 years. In fact the main thing he did say in his speech was "I started a business, I sold it, I started another business." He sat down then jumped up and said an unbelievable thankyou to the office staff and the cleaners....that was it.
He got progressively drunk throughout the afternoon and decided that it was important to discuss sexuality with me. I wont repeat what was said as he is a twat!
Most people are pleased he has gone - I think I am at the front of the queue. Maybe not the head of the queue but very close.........
In other news - I am a fabulous teacher. A few of my students have been selected to perform at the Top Acts show next year! Woo Hoo. It means that I have taught some kids that have been thought to be the best in the state.........Yay me!
I am now on holidays and I have done VERY, VERY little. I am still sitting on the couch - it is 4 in the afternoon! I did go shopping and go to my pilates class but that is it. I am planning on doing a few things today - make my bed, put clothes away but that is it!
My bogan neighbours had a party last night.......I think it was for the daughter's birthday. I know it was a birthday but who's I am not sure. They had the music pumping and the swearing a plenty but then stopped right on midnight. Strnager behaviour - but one that I appreciate. Maybe they have had so many complaints in the last few years that they have realised they need to shush occasionally.
During his farewell speech he didn't really say anything about the people he had worked with over the past 3 years. In fact the main thing he did say in his speech was "I started a business, I sold it, I started another business." He sat down then jumped up and said an unbelievable thankyou to the office staff and the cleaners....that was it.
He got progressively drunk throughout the afternoon and decided that it was important to discuss sexuality with me. I wont repeat what was said as he is a twat!
Most people are pleased he has gone - I think I am at the front of the queue. Maybe not the head of the queue but very close.........
In other news - I am a fabulous teacher. A few of my students have been selected to perform at the Top Acts show next year! Woo Hoo. It means that I have taught some kids that have been thought to be the best in the state.........Yay me!
I am now on holidays and I have done VERY, VERY little. I am still sitting on the couch - it is 4 in the afternoon! I did go shopping and go to my pilates class but that is it. I am planning on doing a few things today - make my bed, put clothes away but that is it!
My bogan neighbours had a party last night.......I think it was for the daughter's birthday. I know it was a birthday but who's I am not sure. They had the music pumping and the swearing a plenty but then stopped right on midnight. Strnager behaviour - but one that I appreciate. Maybe they have had so many complaints in the last few years that they have realised they need to shush occasionally.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
it's done
Can you see me dancing?
The juniors finished their classes for the year! Stoked! Officially I am done - I think........
Tomorrow I meet with the new teacher coming into the department next year. She is young, energetic and just what we need. I will be doing my level best to impress......well not really.
I think I will prepare the rooms a little tomorrow before she comes.
I'm going back to dancing.
The juniors finished their classes for the year! Stoked! Officially I am done - I think........
Tomorrow I meet with the new teacher coming into the department next year. She is young, energetic and just what we need. I will be doing my level best to impress......well not really.
I think I will prepare the rooms a little tomorrow before she comes.
I'm going back to dancing.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
a class I WILL miss a great deal!
I haven't seen a few of my classes for a few weeks - various reasons. Marking meetings - actual marking and then other school organised functions (school camps, history day and a few interviews). In amongst all of this I have been teaching by correspondence. A teacher walks in and explains what has to be done and they then, hopefully, do it!
About 3 weeks ago I left an exercise for my Year 8 class on a Wednesday and it was to compose a piece of music. All instructions were there. A due date was left and the kids said "No!" to the teacher and then renegotiated the date. Their reasoning was that they were on camp the next week and then they had their history day so they wouldn't be able to hand the work in as requested. As a group they decided that today (December 2) was a better day. The teacher agreed and wrote the new date down for my records.
One bright spark then thought through the whole date and time - "isn't that after the reports are done?" The teacher replied that it wasn't. As he is a level coordinator for the year above theirs, they think he has more authority than a regular teacher......he convinced them that the marks would be counted. He also informed them that I would be able to mark the work and have it on the report in an hour. His compromise was that the reports were due in on the date they had selected. Apparently the kids think I am a marking guru.....well some know the truth!
I laughed when I was told and thought nothing more of it.
Today I arrived in class prepared to do something or other which wasn't work related. I thought I might be babysitting the kidlets.......I had thought of some silly music games but not much more!
A few asked me about the work that they needed to hand in. I decided it would be good to go with it. I got them to get their work out and continue on and then hand it in.
By the end of the lesson I had all 24 of their compositions and about the same in Listening Journals. May I remind you that the reports were submitted yesterday!
Tomorrow afternoon will be opening the books and having a quick read then placing a stamp in the book. I think they will be happy.....I'm not sure if I will be. Oh well.
A couple of kids in the class asked me as they had now officially finished all their work and the reports were due in after school could they do something 'fun'. I asked for a definition of 'fun' and they had no idea what that meant.......I am thinking....I don't want to watch a bloody dvd! I am thinking karaoke.....what do you all think?
I will miss this group of kids - they are hilarious. One kid sat for period 5 & 6 with a home made ancient helmet on. He handed in his work with the words "here is something that I have completed for you madam but I am unable to decipher what I have scribbled.....it is too modern for me". As he entered the room he called me his lady. The kid is just on 5 foot tall, cute as anything and has the most amazing personality ever!
About 3 weeks ago I left an exercise for my Year 8 class on a Wednesday and it was to compose a piece of music. All instructions were there. A due date was left and the kids said "No!" to the teacher and then renegotiated the date. Their reasoning was that they were on camp the next week and then they had their history day so they wouldn't be able to hand the work in as requested. As a group they decided that today (December 2) was a better day. The teacher agreed and wrote the new date down for my records.
One bright spark then thought through the whole date and time - "isn't that after the reports are done?" The teacher replied that it wasn't. As he is a level coordinator for the year above theirs, they think he has more authority than a regular teacher......he convinced them that the marks would be counted. He also informed them that I would be able to mark the work and have it on the report in an hour. His compromise was that the reports were due in on the date they had selected. Apparently the kids think I am a marking guru.....well some know the truth!
I laughed when I was told and thought nothing more of it.
Today I arrived in class prepared to do something or other which wasn't work related. I thought I might be babysitting the kidlets.......I had thought of some silly music games but not much more!
A few asked me about the work that they needed to hand in. I decided it would be good to go with it. I got them to get their work out and continue on and then hand it in.
By the end of the lesson I had all 24 of their compositions and about the same in Listening Journals. May I remind you that the reports were submitted yesterday!
Tomorrow afternoon will be opening the books and having a quick read then placing a stamp in the book. I think they will be happy.....I'm not sure if I will be. Oh well.
A couple of kids in the class asked me as they had now officially finished all their work and the reports were due in after school could they do something 'fun'. I asked for a definition of 'fun' and they had no idea what that meant.......I am thinking....I don't want to watch a bloody dvd! I am thinking karaoke.....what do you all think?
I will miss this group of kids - they are hilarious. One kid sat for period 5 & 6 with a home made ancient helmet on. He handed in his work with the words "here is something that I have completed for you madam but I am unable to decipher what I have scribbled.....it is too modern for me". As he entered the room he called me his lady. The kid is just on 5 foot tall, cute as anything and has the most amazing personality ever!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
twiddling the fingers!
I am very excited....I have finally handed in all my reports - 200 of the buggers. Writing them this semester was really quite difficult. My interns didn't leave me the best of marks - but I was able to do a fair bit with them. I blame the supervisor. Oh that's right....that's me!
I also had to rely on a few others for marks.
This leads me to an interesting scene....I asked my department leader for some marks for the kids. I got them, and let me tell you he is one generous marker! One kid had this quote "Can't remember this one".
"Hmmm" thinks I. You have had these kids for a semester......how do you not know who they are? Especially if there are only 15 in the class with you?
I looked at my results and then I looked at what the kids had been given. My favourite kid in this group we share - I had given a 9.5 for most things, he 6! A kid who does absolutely NOTHING - I had to prise an assignment from their well lacquered fingers, He gave a 9 to and I - a mere 6......(These marks are out of 10!)
But it does not matter!!!!!!! We both have different opinions of the kids and they work differently for different teachers.....
There was nothing like the euphoria I felt as I shredded the paper proof-reading copies after electronic submission......having had the report master standing over me as I handed the reports in at the due time.......He was pushing people to hand their reports in and started to push me. I pushed back as I had so many of the buggers and had to fit in the proof reading etc with my buddy during a complete day of teaching. Grr! Thought to myself "Back of bitch" but I was quite polite. I got through it all - 6 periods out of 6 of teaching and working through lunch!
Tonight is the first night in about 3 weeks when I have nothing to do marking wise (external exam marking or my own reports!) I am not sure what I will do.....I know finish the sock for Frogdancer.......
I also had to rely on a few others for marks.
This leads me to an interesting scene....I asked my department leader for some marks for the kids. I got them, and let me tell you he is one generous marker! One kid had this quote "Can't remember this one".
"Hmmm" thinks I. You have had these kids for a semester......how do you not know who they are? Especially if there are only 15 in the class with you?
I looked at my results and then I looked at what the kids had been given. My favourite kid in this group we share - I had given a 9.5 for most things, he 6! A kid who does absolutely NOTHING - I had to prise an assignment from their well lacquered fingers, He gave a 9 to and I - a mere 6......(These marks are out of 10!)
But it does not matter!!!!!!! We both have different opinions of the kids and they work differently for different teachers.....
There was nothing like the euphoria I felt as I shredded the paper proof-reading copies after electronic submission......having had the report master standing over me as I handed the reports in at the due time.......He was pushing people to hand their reports in and started to push me. I pushed back as I had so many of the buggers and had to fit in the proof reading etc with my buddy during a complete day of teaching. Grr! Thought to myself "Back of bitch" but I was quite polite. I got through it all - 6 periods out of 6 of teaching and working through lunch!
Tonight is the first night in about 3 weeks when I have nothing to do marking wise (external exam marking or my own reports!) I am not sure what I will do.....I know finish the sock for Frogdancer.......
Monday, November 16, 2009
The power of music
Today I learnt this......
"it's as if the music will actually be able to calm an enraged gorilla".
I have seen this happen - when I have played 'Morning Mood' to my Year 8s......
the testosterone seemed to leave the room and we had an intellectual conversation about the music and how the composer was so amazing in that he only used 5 notes and it sounded so fresh....(the words of my boys!)
the kid must have been in the room!
"it's as if the music will actually be able to calm an enraged gorilla".
I have seen this happen - when I have played 'Morning Mood' to my Year 8s......
the testosterone seemed to leave the room and we had an intellectual conversation about the music and how the composer was so amazing in that he only used 5 notes and it sounded so fresh....(the words of my boys!)
the kid must have been in the room!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
hard
It has been a whirlwind this week emotionally. The year 12s had a festive end to their year - Tuesday dress up day, Wednesday sign the uniforms and valedictory dinner and Thursday - their assembly which was highly entertaining.
I love my year 12s and some are definitely favourites in my world. Others, I am pleased to see the end of - but then you get that with every group of people.
Friday morning the bubble of high energy was burst with the sad news that one of the girls in Year 12 had taken her own life earlier in the week. I didn't personally teach this girl but I knew her through others that I did teach.
Her funeral was today and I found it to be one of the most moving experiences I have been to. I was there to support the kids I teach who knew her and I was struggling with the whole situation.
Frogdancer was one of her teachers and her account is quite moving........
All I have to say is RIP T.
I love my year 12s and some are definitely favourites in my world. Others, I am pleased to see the end of - but then you get that with every group of people.
Friday morning the bubble of high energy was burst with the sad news that one of the girls in Year 12 had taken her own life earlier in the week. I didn't personally teach this girl but I knew her through others that I did teach.
Her funeral was today and I found it to be one of the most moving experiences I have been to. I was there to support the kids I teach who knew her and I was struggling with the whole situation.
Frogdancer was one of her teachers and her account is quite moving........
All I have to say is RIP T.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
procastination
Last day of the school holidays and all and I don't think I really remember them going so fast before.....maybe I didn't have as much correction to do before...
I was at dinner last night with a good friend of mine who is a physics/chemistry teacher at her school and both of us agree that this year has been the craziest year for year 12s. We both have felt slightly bombarded with year 12s this year. Same with a music teacher friend of mine from another school.....Might be the year for it.
I am also a little befuddled at the moment......Daylight savings has begun. A couple of years ago they decided to bring forward the starting date of daylight saving, which was after a successful delaying of the end of it. Essentially we have 6 months with and 6 months without. The only way I remember which way my clock goes is through a mantra I got from someone on the internet - thank you.....Spring forward. Fall back. You should have heard me last night with muttering as I changed all the clocks in the house. Perhaps it's best that you didn't.
I do like this particular time of year - each day holds so much promise as you feel like you are getting more into the day. But then I love all times of the year. Winter, when you can snuggle up and watch the tv without feeling like you should be out. Summer - spending long evenings enjoying the warm weather. Autumn with the falling leaves......I love all seasons. I just hate extremely hot days.
I suppose I should finish the corrections.
I was at dinner last night with a good friend of mine who is a physics/chemistry teacher at her school and both of us agree that this year has been the craziest year for year 12s. We both have felt slightly bombarded with year 12s this year. Same with a music teacher friend of mine from another school.....Might be the year for it.
I am also a little befuddled at the moment......Daylight savings has begun. A couple of years ago they decided to bring forward the starting date of daylight saving, which was after a successful delaying of the end of it. Essentially we have 6 months with and 6 months without. The only way I remember which way my clock goes is through a mantra I got from someone on the internet - thank you.....Spring forward. Fall back. You should have heard me last night with muttering as I changed all the clocks in the house. Perhaps it's best that you didn't.
I do like this particular time of year - each day holds so much promise as you feel like you are getting more into the day. But then I love all times of the year. Winter, when you can snuggle up and watch the tv without feeling like you should be out. Summer - spending long evenings enjoying the warm weather. Autumn with the falling leaves......I love all seasons. I just hate extremely hot days.
I suppose I should finish the corrections.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
two quotes
I have just heard two quotes that I think I need to make part of my choir rehearsals....
I was watching "Glee" which I think is one of the cheesiest tv shows I have ever viewed.......
My quotes - from a teacher to a student wanting to join the singing group..... "You stuff this up for me and I will shove my fist so far down your throat you'll taste my armpit hairs." I think that this is an inspiring line - one that I am sure I can make work in a choir rehearsal.....
The other from another teacher "I want you to smell your armpits. That's the smell of failure." something to tell a kid when they have no idea how to succeed.
Help me - where can I make these work?
I was watching "Glee" which I think is one of the cheesiest tv shows I have ever viewed.......
My quotes - from a teacher to a student wanting to join the singing group..... "You stuff this up for me and I will shove my fist so far down your throat you'll taste my armpit hairs." I think that this is an inspiring line - one that I am sure I can make work in a choir rehearsal.....
The other from another teacher "I want you to smell your armpits. That's the smell of failure." something to tell a kid when they have no idea how to succeed.
Help me - where can I make these work?
Monday, September 28, 2009
changing plans for the day
Week two of the holidays and I had an appointment with the dentist - to have another look at that tooth that broke around my birthday...it still hurts when I eat or the right side of my mouth. I changed my appointment as I have the beginnings of a cold......nothing like being a sneeze-head and struggling with the whole breathing thing (although not so severe now) and having work done in your mouth.....
Considering I have a little time to myself, I haven't dressed yet - such bliss.....and I have just about finished writing up 2 exams. I have one more to go! Then I have the CDs to go.
Did I tell you that I am on Facebook? I have become addicted to the farming application here......I have this thing about seeding fields and yielding the harvest - even if it is only virtual.
My thoughts today are with my sister who is having chemo for breast cancer. Just sending out my love to her! If you can send her love that will be awesome!
Considering I have a little time to myself, I haven't dressed yet - such bliss.....and I have just about finished writing up 2 exams. I have one more to go! Then I have the CDs to go.
Did I tell you that I am on Facebook? I have become addicted to the farming application here......I have this thing about seeding fields and yielding the harvest - even if it is only virtual.
My thoughts today are with my sister who is having chemo for breast cancer. Just sending out my love to her! If you can send her love that will be awesome!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
musing to the percussionist
I am sitting in the office of the music department at the moment listening to one of my year 12 students practice for his performance exam. This is the issue when you don't play a portable instrument, you have to find people to help you get practice time. He is a percussionist and he has a drum kit at home. For his exam he will play drum kit, marimba, xylophone, snare drum and timpani. He hasn't done any timpani practice today as he left his music for that piece at home......
I will be in again tomorrow with the kids not doing solo (ie group) and the same boy is coming in to practice. He has assured me that he will have his timpani music. You should see this piece he is playing, it is very entertaining.
I was only intending to be here for a couple of hours - to take the kids through the two versions of one of the pieces they have to write about in their written exam. We seemed to have run out of time during the term to get everything done due to many rehearsals for the big concert. I arranged for the kids to meet me for about 3 hours today to run through this final part of the course. All but one turned up.......not a bad effort really. We wrote about the two versions on all elements and discussed how to answer various questions. The kids seemed to do get a lot out of it.
Tomorrow when the group kids are here I will be revising everything in their course - aural/written, aspects of performance, analysis, improvisation.
It's funny - I have had solo and group together all year and have found the going tough. The basic principles of the course are the same. 50% for a practical performance at the end of the year, 25% for school assessed coursework (solo - all prac, group -mostly written) and then 25% for the end of year exam. It's when you get down to what they are being assessed that everything becomes a nightmare. There are similarities but no direct correlations between the two courses.
Here is a basic idea for the written aspect:
Theory /Aural
Scales - both have to write them but completely different types and in different keys!
Intervals - again both have to know them but how they are assessed is different. Group is aural in this aspect.
Melodic Dictation - both write but Group are given all but 2bars. Solo have to sort the whole thing out themselves - no key signature given. Again different scale types used in both courses.
Rhythmic Dictation - not assessed in Solo (only in the Melodic dictation)
Chords - Solo has to know them from the scale types they learnt, Group have to know how to build on any note.
Chord progressions - group have a list to choose from but are not given any information about the opening chord. solo have the opening chord given but that is it!
Analysis
Group have to write about very, very short excerpts from popular Australian music. Something that could have been released this year. They are played it a few times and write about 7 different elements.
Solo have two different versions of one piece played to them and write about 5 elements and how they compare and contrast in the two versions.
Solo then go on and write two long answers to two prepared pieces. They have about 15 minutes on each........
Group have to then write about Aspects of Performance - including acoustics; and either Part Writing or Improvisation. We did improvisation. Again about 15 minutes on each.
The whole exam is 1 1/2 hours long.......
As you can see, there are similarities but no direct correlations......Frustrating as a teacher and I think more so for the kids in the class as you teach to one lot, while the other do something else. The attention span of most of these kids is about 10 minutes maximum.......you then have to swap activities. I will be quite happy when they have finished as I wont have to do the intellectual tap dance of which course has what......
I will be in again tomorrow with the kids not doing solo (ie group) and the same boy is coming in to practice. He has assured me that he will have his timpani music. You should see this piece he is playing, it is very entertaining.
I was only intending to be here for a couple of hours - to take the kids through the two versions of one of the pieces they have to write about in their written exam. We seemed to have run out of time during the term to get everything done due to many rehearsals for the big concert. I arranged for the kids to meet me for about 3 hours today to run through this final part of the course. All but one turned up.......not a bad effort really. We wrote about the two versions on all elements and discussed how to answer various questions. The kids seemed to do get a lot out of it.
Tomorrow when the group kids are here I will be revising everything in their course - aural/written, aspects of performance, analysis, improvisation.
It's funny - I have had solo and group together all year and have found the going tough. The basic principles of the course are the same. 50% for a practical performance at the end of the year, 25% for school assessed coursework (solo - all prac, group -mostly written) and then 25% for the end of year exam. It's when you get down to what they are being assessed that everything becomes a nightmare. There are similarities but no direct correlations between the two courses.
Here is a basic idea for the written aspect:
Theory /Aural
Scales - both have to write them but completely different types and in different keys!
Intervals - again both have to know them but how they are assessed is different. Group is aural in this aspect.
Melodic Dictation - both write but Group are given all but 2bars. Solo have to sort the whole thing out themselves - no key signature given. Again different scale types used in both courses.
Rhythmic Dictation - not assessed in Solo (only in the Melodic dictation)
Chords - Solo has to know them from the scale types they learnt, Group have to know how to build on any note.
Chord progressions - group have a list to choose from but are not given any information about the opening chord. solo have the opening chord given but that is it!
Analysis
Group have to write about very, very short excerpts from popular Australian music. Something that could have been released this year. They are played it a few times and write about 7 different elements.
Solo have two different versions of one piece played to them and write about 5 elements and how they compare and contrast in the two versions.
Solo then go on and write two long answers to two prepared pieces. They have about 15 minutes on each........
Group have to then write about Aspects of Performance - including acoustics; and either Part Writing or Improvisation. We did improvisation. Again about 15 minutes on each.
The whole exam is 1 1/2 hours long.......
As you can see, there are similarities but no direct correlations......Frustrating as a teacher and I think more so for the kids in the class as you teach to one lot, while the other do something else. The attention span of most of these kids is about 10 minutes maximum.......you then have to swap activities. I will be quite happy when they have finished as I wont have to do the intellectual tap dance of which course has what......
Thursday, September 17, 2009
one day to the hols.....
Last night of the recitals tonight. Woo Hoo! Actually the night wasn't as long as I thought it was going to be.....two sickies with medical certificates..........so we finished at 9.30 or so which meant I was home just after 10! Yay!
Between tonight and tomorrow night I am going to write two intern reports (am I going to be glad to see the end of them - one more than the other), correct a few SACs (school assessed coursework, for year 12s) and then pack my stuff and go home. I have a year 12 class and a year 8 class to do in amongst all of this.
I have had a great glass of port (might have another!), watching episode 16 series 3 of West Wing and relaxing on the couch. Such bliss - what a great pity I wasn't able to undertake this luxury at 8pm!
Between tonight and tomorrow night I am going to write two intern reports (am I going to be glad to see the end of them - one more than the other), correct a few SACs (school assessed coursework, for year 12s) and then pack my stuff and go home. I have a year 12 class and a year 8 class to do in amongst all of this.
I have had a great glass of port (might have another!), watching episode 16 series 3 of West Wing and relaxing on the couch. Such bliss - what a great pity I wasn't able to undertake this luxury at 8pm!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Stream of Consciousness
Night two of the year 12 recitals......5 singers (2 classical voice and 3 contemporary voice) and 1 percussionist. The percussionist claimed he was not going to sing.....I counted 5 "ole's"...He lied!
I found that I come home to relax by watching West Wing. I loved it when it was on tv and now I love it even more when I can catch up on episodes one at a time..... I am up to Series 3. I keep laughing that all the "things" that happen. Whenever there is an issue either character involved in the issue will comment on "the thing". eg "We have a thing" or "Do you know about the thing?"
Not sure if I will get through the last 20 minutes of this episode - finally I am getting tired and this stream of consciousness is drying up.
There are two days left in the term. One of those days will involve me being at the school until 10.30pm or so. The other day will be talking to my interns about their placement with me.
I will be so glad to see Friday 2.30pm!
I found that I come home to relax by watching West Wing. I loved it when it was on tv and now I love it even more when I can catch up on episodes one at a time..... I am up to Series 3. I keep laughing that all the "things" that happen. Whenever there is an issue either character involved in the issue will comment on "the thing". eg "We have a thing" or "Do you know about the thing?"
Not sure if I will get through the last 20 minutes of this episode - finally I am getting tired and this stream of consciousness is drying up.
There are two days left in the term. One of those days will involve me being at the school until 10.30pm or so. The other day will be talking to my interns about their placement with me.
I will be so glad to see Friday 2.30pm!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
it is hectic
I haven't posted for a while - you probably didn't especially notice but saw that I might not have come up on the reader you use for a while.
It's not that I haven't got anything to say.....I just don't really have the time to say it. I am, at the present moment, spending ridiculous amounts of time just doing lots of stuff. By saying that please don't panic any of you - I have caught up with friends and family but I haven't got onto the internet that often. I have been enjoying the personal contact with face-to-face interactions.
Work is ridiculously busy - but then when the head of department takes a week off, reasons unknown to me, you might find yourself with a different class placed in front of you which you spend a week teaching and discovering that they are so hungry for information that they write down EVERYTHING that comes out of your mouth. Now I know that I am one of the most inspirational speakers around (crickets chirping in the background) but I found this quite off putting.
Added to this new class conundrum the two interns that I have. May have mentioned these delightfuls before but I have one week to go with them. I am quite relieved. The good one (A) is still motoring along. I don't think that she is a favourite amongst the kids but they are working hard for her and she has developed some good relationships with them. Behaviour is not an issue - and if it is, she deals with it without any mad panic attacks or diva style behaviour.
The other one (B) has changed a great deal over the last 9 weeks. She is still hard work emotionally. B has not really developed great relationships with the kids and I believe many will be glad to see the back of her. Classroom Management has been a major issue for her. We started with no real concept of what she wanted or how to get it.
Now the pendulum has swung the other way. She over reacts to things and then demands justice for the smallest of misdemeanors. This week kids were handed detentions like you would throw confetti over the newly weds. It was amazing to witness. I went to one of her detentions as I had kids in the same room finishing work. It amazed me - there were two kids who turned up who didn't have a detention but they had nothing else to do as all their friends were there. Then the cheeky cherubs misbehaved and were threatened with an afterschool..........
I have had other teachers pulling me aside all week to discuss the issues with B. Most of the conversations start with "are you responsible for the intern B?" I raise an eyebrow and suddenly find myself being enveloped with another intriguing tale of the adventures of intern B.
It's funny - everyone on staff knows who intern B is but then are amazed that there is another one, A. When I point out that I have two, the response is "Really?"
Year 12s finish soon and as a consequence of the looming finish line kids have hit the accelerator with an amazing panic. I teach junior classes at the moment all the while madly going through what I am expecting to do with this or that student.........this coming week I have three nights of recitals to attend. Each of the solo kids has to present a program up to 25 minutes. Mulitply that by 18 and you have a decent amount of time to be found. The group boys have to do 35 minutes. Next week is the last week of term and I am scratching my head wondering why I have done this.........but then their end of year exams start on the first weekend of term 4. It has to be done then!
On a completely different track - our large staffrooms are arranged like small enclaves. Each is a social entity to itself that can be severly affected by personnel changes. My small grouping was a group of 5 women and one man. This man is one of THE MOST ANNOYING men I have ever met. He is a noisy eater, an emotional roller coaster and an amazing braggart.
A few months ago one of the ladies retired. She was replaced by a quietly spoken man who I get along really well with. His desk is amazingly tidy but lacks an obvious coherence. (but then mine is a minefield of danger and peril with no order anywhere in sight!) He is a patient man who deals with everyone equally. He sets an example that I have no desire to follow but feel slightly guilty that I don't......it soon passes.
One of the other ladies is only in the school 2 days a week. She has no real impact on the social niceties of the grouping of desks other than getting in my way by having her chair too far out. We speak on very general terms but her whiny tone of voice annoys me.......in fact any whiny tone amongst the staff annoys. What is wrong with stating what you need to say and doing so without the "it's not fair" tone that just gets under your skin? I digress......
In the last fortnight the other two ladies (art teachers) have gone on leave and have been replaced with two males. One is quite efeminite and has an intruiguing way of dealing with the annoying man.......I still laugh. He is a moderately big personality but then tries to hide this away. As a result he comes across with this pulsating energy that he is trying madly to hide but sometimes fails. One of the other art teachers is in his face constantly. (She is another of the whiners and I cringe at the nearness of her.....)
The other is a strange person. He is nice enough - social niceties are there "morning/bye" but that is about as much as you can get out of him. I am sure he is a fine artist - in fact I have seen some of his doodlings. They're interesting and quite pleasing to the eye. He is very reserved but seems to be spending a lot of time observing the world and, I believe, to be working out ways of using the information he finds in his artwork.
Now the next part of what I am about to say is completely unnecessary but it's more of my observations of this bloke. He travels from one side of Melbourne to the other to teach at our school. I mean he is travelling a good 45 minutes from the inner northern suburbs to a real suburban school. It must be a culutral shock.
Once he has arrived he squirts some sort of clear liquid (no, it's not water in a fancy bottle) under his tongue. I've seen him do this two times now. It is quite disconcerting. I believe it to be a herbal concotion of some sort. He is a strong vegetarian (again, nothing unusual here) and has made lots of comments about my lunch............
I have called him strange. I mean this from the angle that I can't quite guage him. He is not a typical teacher BUT then he views himself as an artist who occasionally teaches. This is a different view for most teachers at my school. They are, on the whole, dedicated, career teachers. I can't quite fathom how he finds working at the school we are at, and this is the point from where I begin my definition of his strangeness. I think it is more an indication of my inability to categorise him than anything to do with him.......
I am hanging out to my holidays and catching up with me. This term has been emotionally challenging, both on a personal and professional level. I have been working incredibly hard for the term - we had our huge concert, which was too long, 3 weeks ago. I do the massed singing at the end, which is quite a head spin, but taxes me through the rehearsal process. 700 kids and teachers who seem to be there to watch the 'show'. It's frustrating.
I also have the year 8 band who are cute but all over the place musically, and I have the choir. They are developing in ability and size. I decided to have new uniforms this year. We made them. It took so long to make them. We made 78 of them. Only 73 were used. They looked effective but each one took about 2 hours to make. I cut half of them out. I sewed a dozen of them. They took a long time.
So now I have presented half of the reasons that I haven't been on line for a while. Hopefully it won't be as long next time.
It's not that I haven't got anything to say.....I just don't really have the time to say it. I am, at the present moment, spending ridiculous amounts of time just doing lots of stuff. By saying that please don't panic any of you - I have caught up with friends and family but I haven't got onto the internet that often. I have been enjoying the personal contact with face-to-face interactions.
Work is ridiculously busy - but then when the head of department takes a week off, reasons unknown to me, you might find yourself with a different class placed in front of you which you spend a week teaching and discovering that they are so hungry for information that they write down EVERYTHING that comes out of your mouth. Now I know that I am one of the most inspirational speakers around (crickets chirping in the background) but I found this quite off putting.
Added to this new class conundrum the two interns that I have. May have mentioned these delightfuls before but I have one week to go with them. I am quite relieved. The good one (A) is still motoring along. I don't think that she is a favourite amongst the kids but they are working hard for her and she has developed some good relationships with them. Behaviour is not an issue - and if it is, she deals with it without any mad panic attacks or diva style behaviour.
The other one (B) has changed a great deal over the last 9 weeks. She is still hard work emotionally. B has not really developed great relationships with the kids and I believe many will be glad to see the back of her. Classroom Management has been a major issue for her. We started with no real concept of what she wanted or how to get it.
Now the pendulum has swung the other way. She over reacts to things and then demands justice for the smallest of misdemeanors. This week kids were handed detentions like you would throw confetti over the newly weds. It was amazing to witness. I went to one of her detentions as I had kids in the same room finishing work. It amazed me - there were two kids who turned up who didn't have a detention but they had nothing else to do as all their friends were there. Then the cheeky cherubs misbehaved and were threatened with an afterschool..........
I have had other teachers pulling me aside all week to discuss the issues with B. Most of the conversations start with "are you responsible for the intern B?" I raise an eyebrow and suddenly find myself being enveloped with another intriguing tale of the adventures of intern B.
It's funny - everyone on staff knows who intern B is but then are amazed that there is another one, A. When I point out that I have two, the response is "Really?"
Year 12s finish soon and as a consequence of the looming finish line kids have hit the accelerator with an amazing panic. I teach junior classes at the moment all the while madly going through what I am expecting to do with this or that student.........this coming week I have three nights of recitals to attend. Each of the solo kids has to present a program up to 25 minutes. Mulitply that by 18 and you have a decent amount of time to be found. The group boys have to do 35 minutes. Next week is the last week of term and I am scratching my head wondering why I have done this.........but then their end of year exams start on the first weekend of term 4. It has to be done then!
On a completely different track - our large staffrooms are arranged like small enclaves. Each is a social entity to itself that can be severly affected by personnel changes. My small grouping was a group of 5 women and one man. This man is one of THE MOST ANNOYING men I have ever met. He is a noisy eater, an emotional roller coaster and an amazing braggart.
A few months ago one of the ladies retired. She was replaced by a quietly spoken man who I get along really well with. His desk is amazingly tidy but lacks an obvious coherence. (but then mine is a minefield of danger and peril with no order anywhere in sight!) He is a patient man who deals with everyone equally. He sets an example that I have no desire to follow but feel slightly guilty that I don't......it soon passes.
One of the other ladies is only in the school 2 days a week. She has no real impact on the social niceties of the grouping of desks other than getting in my way by having her chair too far out. We speak on very general terms but her whiny tone of voice annoys me.......in fact any whiny tone amongst the staff annoys. What is wrong with stating what you need to say and doing so without the "it's not fair" tone that just gets under your skin? I digress......
In the last fortnight the other two ladies (art teachers) have gone on leave and have been replaced with two males. One is quite efeminite and has an intruiguing way of dealing with the annoying man.......I still laugh. He is a moderately big personality but then tries to hide this away. As a result he comes across with this pulsating energy that he is trying madly to hide but sometimes fails. One of the other art teachers is in his face constantly. (She is another of the whiners and I cringe at the nearness of her.....)
The other is a strange person. He is nice enough - social niceties are there "morning/bye" but that is about as much as you can get out of him. I am sure he is a fine artist - in fact I have seen some of his doodlings. They're interesting and quite pleasing to the eye. He is very reserved but seems to be spending a lot of time observing the world and, I believe, to be working out ways of using the information he finds in his artwork.
Now the next part of what I am about to say is completely unnecessary but it's more of my observations of this bloke. He travels from one side of Melbourne to the other to teach at our school. I mean he is travelling a good 45 minutes from the inner northern suburbs to a real suburban school. It must be a culutral shock.
Once he has arrived he squirts some sort of clear liquid (no, it's not water in a fancy bottle) under his tongue. I've seen him do this two times now. It is quite disconcerting. I believe it to be a herbal concotion of some sort. He is a strong vegetarian (again, nothing unusual here) and has made lots of comments about my lunch............
I have called him strange. I mean this from the angle that I can't quite guage him. He is not a typical teacher BUT then he views himself as an artist who occasionally teaches. This is a different view for most teachers at my school. They are, on the whole, dedicated, career teachers. I can't quite fathom how he finds working at the school we are at, and this is the point from where I begin my definition of his strangeness. I think it is more an indication of my inability to categorise him than anything to do with him.......
I am hanging out to my holidays and catching up with me. This term has been emotionally challenging, both on a personal and professional level. I have been working incredibly hard for the term - we had our huge concert, which was too long, 3 weeks ago. I do the massed singing at the end, which is quite a head spin, but taxes me through the rehearsal process. 700 kids and teachers who seem to be there to watch the 'show'. It's frustrating.
I also have the year 8 band who are cute but all over the place musically, and I have the choir. They are developing in ability and size. I decided to have new uniforms this year. We made them. It took so long to make them. We made 78 of them. Only 73 were used. They looked effective but each one took about 2 hours to make. I cut half of them out. I sewed a dozen of them. They took a long time.
So now I have presented half of the reasons that I haven't been on line for a while. Hopefully it won't be as long next time.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
colour your thoughts
It has been an interesting few days or so in my world.
The most fascinating thing that has happened is discovering, without full diagnosis, that one of my students uses the thinking process Synesthesia.
I just love the idea that sound presents itself as colour......It is really amazing. This particular student thought everyone thought the same way and that because she had trouble developing a language to describe sound, she was 'dumb'. I explained to her that most people can see colour with sound - but it is not the first thing that appears........
For this girl it is the only thing that happens....
I asked her to describe how she saw the colour. Her description has me thinking a great deal.
Think about your vision.
Now think about your peripheral vision.
On the boundaries of that there is an explosion of colour which appears with sound. As the instruments change, so does the colour. If the instruments are played in a different way, so does the colour. Again, the colour changes according to the style of music.
But this is not a major colour change but rather a subtle change if the instruments are related, or the pitch range changes. Higher sounds gets a whiter input........
I am so amazed.
Now the challenge for us is to develop the word mix that goes with those changes. We are starting with the primary colours. As we create a vocab list for each of the elements then we will move to the next level of colour.
This girl is so excited. It is amazing.
I love my job as there are so many different things that occurs.
The most fascinating thing that has happened is discovering, without full diagnosis, that one of my students uses the thinking process Synesthesia.
I just love the idea that sound presents itself as colour......It is really amazing. This particular student thought everyone thought the same way and that because she had trouble developing a language to describe sound, she was 'dumb'. I explained to her that most people can see colour with sound - but it is not the first thing that appears........
For this girl it is the only thing that happens....
I asked her to describe how she saw the colour. Her description has me thinking a great deal.
Think about your vision.
Now think about your peripheral vision.
On the boundaries of that there is an explosion of colour which appears with sound. As the instruments change, so does the colour. If the instruments are played in a different way, so does the colour. Again, the colour changes according to the style of music.
But this is not a major colour change but rather a subtle change if the instruments are related, or the pitch range changes. Higher sounds gets a whiter input........
I am so amazed.
Now the challenge for us is to develop the word mix that goes with those changes. We are starting with the primary colours. As we create a vocab list for each of the elements then we will move to the next level of colour.
This girl is so excited. It is amazing.
I love my job as there are so many different things that occurs.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
interns
Where to begin.
I am thinking a great deal at the moment. Nothing unusual there really. I have so little time at work and find that my time at home is spent being stupidly busy doing my correction which I would prefer to do at work.
Why has this occurred? Two interns of course. One of my colleagues in my department went on holidays and they got two interns to cover her. An intern is somewhere between a student teacher and a beginning teacher. A student teacher you have to sit in the classroom with. A beginning teacher can be in the classroom on their own but do need a fair amount of support. They get the gist of most things fairly quickly - if they are worth their metal.......
My two interns are an interesting pair. A is fantastic. She is bright, vivacious and a self starter. The kids think that she is ok - they're not big fans, but she is replacing someone who has an amazing reputation. The thing I like about intern A is the fact that she thinks BUT she also acts. This is a huge thing. She sees something that needs to be done and she does it. If she has an issue - she comes and asks me from the point of view, I have done this in reaction/relation to this. What else can I do?
B is so different. She is lovely but she is tiring. I mean really tiring. She is emotionally all over the place. She thinks way too much about this job that she is doing. We have had many a conversation that includes her telling me that she has this/that to improve. She has thought an amazing amount of time about the theory of classroom behaviour, student thinking, teaching directions, and even subject philosophy........but she hasn't really put a lot of this into practice.
I watched her teach last week and she is not that bad. She is lacking somewhat in personality, but then a lot of beginning teachers do as they are frightened to make a mistake. She also has a standard of behaviour that I don't think anyone can live up to. As a result the kids are never behaving for her........ It came to a focal point last Friday when she left the teacher she was working with during her 4th period class because her 3rd period class were awful. She came and sat beside me and started crying. This has happened a few times. Tears, not the leaving of the classroom.......
I asked her to unpack what had happened and she gave me a broad brush stroke response that the kids were naughty. I asked her to clarify and eventually she told me something had happened which essentially was that a couple of the boys had not done as she had asked. My reaction was probably not as supportive as it could've been. I was blown away that she had walked out of a class.......
I was quite blunt, as I know I can be! I asked her what would happen if this had happened and she wasn't team teaching? Would she have walked out of the class? We chatted about the idea of having to approach things from a number of different angles.
The crunch came when she told me she had 'stuff' happening in her world that was exhausting her. That was, at the time, the final straw. I told her about my family - which I had not planned on doing so - and where we are at at the moment. I agreed that teaching is hard when you are not altogether there BUT a professional, whether it be good or bad, needs to step aside from the personal and focus on the end game. The end game are the kids!
I told to get a grip and get back into the classroom. Not the best conversation that I have had but it was one that I had to have with her.
By the end of the day I explained, as nicely as I could, that I would need to see a definite improvement in the way she attacked her teaching - especially her emotional response. If I didn't see this improvement then I would have to talk to her university.
Monday I was absent, Tuesday she left early. Today was a sports day. I will see her tomorrow.....
I am thinking a great deal at the moment. Nothing unusual there really. I have so little time at work and find that my time at home is spent being stupidly busy doing my correction which I would prefer to do at work.
Why has this occurred? Two interns of course. One of my colleagues in my department went on holidays and they got two interns to cover her. An intern is somewhere between a student teacher and a beginning teacher. A student teacher you have to sit in the classroom with. A beginning teacher can be in the classroom on their own but do need a fair amount of support. They get the gist of most things fairly quickly - if they are worth their metal.......
My two interns are an interesting pair. A is fantastic. She is bright, vivacious and a self starter. The kids think that she is ok - they're not big fans, but she is replacing someone who has an amazing reputation. The thing I like about intern A is the fact that she thinks BUT she also acts. This is a huge thing. She sees something that needs to be done and she does it. If she has an issue - she comes and asks me from the point of view, I have done this in reaction/relation to this. What else can I do?
B is so different. She is lovely but she is tiring. I mean really tiring. She is emotionally all over the place. She thinks way too much about this job that she is doing. We have had many a conversation that includes her telling me that she has this/that to improve. She has thought an amazing amount of time about the theory of classroom behaviour, student thinking, teaching directions, and even subject philosophy........but she hasn't really put a lot of this into practice.
I watched her teach last week and she is not that bad. She is lacking somewhat in personality, but then a lot of beginning teachers do as they are frightened to make a mistake. She also has a standard of behaviour that I don't think anyone can live up to. As a result the kids are never behaving for her........ It came to a focal point last Friday when she left the teacher she was working with during her 4th period class because her 3rd period class were awful. She came and sat beside me and started crying. This has happened a few times. Tears, not the leaving of the classroom.......
I asked her to unpack what had happened and she gave me a broad brush stroke response that the kids were naughty. I asked her to clarify and eventually she told me something had happened which essentially was that a couple of the boys had not done as she had asked. My reaction was probably not as supportive as it could've been. I was blown away that she had walked out of a class.......
I was quite blunt, as I know I can be! I asked her what would happen if this had happened and she wasn't team teaching? Would she have walked out of the class? We chatted about the idea of having to approach things from a number of different angles.
The crunch came when she told me she had 'stuff' happening in her world that was exhausting her. That was, at the time, the final straw. I told her about my family - which I had not planned on doing so - and where we are at at the moment. I agreed that teaching is hard when you are not altogether there BUT a professional, whether it be good or bad, needs to step aside from the personal and focus on the end game. The end game are the kids!
I told to get a grip and get back into the classroom. Not the best conversation that I have had but it was one that I had to have with her.
By the end of the day I explained, as nicely as I could, that I would need to see a definite improvement in the way she attacked her teaching - especially her emotional response. If I didn't see this improvement then I would have to talk to her university.
Monday I was absent, Tuesday she left early. Today was a sports day. I will see her tomorrow.....
Sunday, July 26, 2009
time management
This week I have discovered the beauty of organisation. For those of you who already understand this, please bare with me.
Having two interns is, for the present time, incredibly time consuming. Every spare lesson I have I seem to be discussing classroom management, lesson structure, activities, and general health and well being.
My correction is WAY off kilter. I had this amazing idea that I would collect student written work early in the semester and have the work completed so that the run to the end of the year would be quite practical. Truth be told - this is an impossibility.
I have realised that I will leave a lot of the written work until the beginning of the next term. My classes for the time being will be more practical in nature where I can assess the students processing the work that is set. The written needs to be much later when some sort of routine returns to my world and I am not dealing with two young teachers.
This week I have also come home unbelievably pooped......so I have now made a few meals up and popped them in the freezer so I can come home, re heat and relax.
I know that it will calm down over the term. Once the interns have relaxed a little....one will need to relax a lot. I need to get the two of them to a stage where they feel confident that if they make a mistake that it is ok. You unpack what happened and then you rebuild. It is not worth having kittens over.
If I am not blogging a lot then I am rather exhausted. Also there is not a lot that I have to say. Actually there is another reason....
For some reason or other my blogging has reached a point where I am looking at it from the time management point of view and what I actually get out of it. I know a few people who say that it is a good thing for me to do - cathartic even. But I really am not putting a great deal of myself here - I don't mention people's names, dates etc so that means that I am rather restricted in what I say and how.
There is also the idea of who my audience is and, more to the point, do I have one. As I know some of the people who read this personally, I have restricted the way I write - one to protect them and two to protect myself. People may say 'stuff that' but can I really be bothered.....I have lots to say and I think I would prefer to say it out loud........
I will be here....but infrequently......
So now I am off to relax with friends before the craziness of the week ahead.
Having two interns is, for the present time, incredibly time consuming. Every spare lesson I have I seem to be discussing classroom management, lesson structure, activities, and general health and well being.
My correction is WAY off kilter. I had this amazing idea that I would collect student written work early in the semester and have the work completed so that the run to the end of the year would be quite practical. Truth be told - this is an impossibility.
I have realised that I will leave a lot of the written work until the beginning of the next term. My classes for the time being will be more practical in nature where I can assess the students processing the work that is set. The written needs to be much later when some sort of routine returns to my world and I am not dealing with two young teachers.
This week I have also come home unbelievably pooped......so I have now made a few meals up and popped them in the freezer so I can come home, re heat and relax.
I know that it will calm down over the term. Once the interns have relaxed a little....one will need to relax a lot. I need to get the two of them to a stage where they feel confident that if they make a mistake that it is ok. You unpack what happened and then you rebuild. It is not worth having kittens over.
If I am not blogging a lot then I am rather exhausted. Also there is not a lot that I have to say. Actually there is another reason....
For some reason or other my blogging has reached a point where I am looking at it from the time management point of view and what I actually get out of it. I know a few people who say that it is a good thing for me to do - cathartic even. But I really am not putting a great deal of myself here - I don't mention people's names, dates etc so that means that I am rather restricted in what I say and how.
There is also the idea of who my audience is and, more to the point, do I have one. As I know some of the people who read this personally, I have restricted the way I write - one to protect them and two to protect myself. People may say 'stuff that' but can I really be bothered.....I have lots to say and I think I would prefer to say it out loud........
I will be here....but infrequently......
So now I am off to relax with friends before the craziness of the week ahead.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
a week in review
Last weekend I spent the weekend at a conference for music educators. Some of the stuff I heard was fantastic but one workshop was a complete waste of time......but you do get that.
The good stuff - I did a couple of workshops with a great Choir director and learnt a few things. I heard an amazing lecture from a band director about leading an ensemble - and how this applies to your teaching etc. But I did an amazing workshop with a regular teacher from the other side of Melbourne which focused on ways to teach improvisation. It was fab.
Whilst I gave up 90% of my weekend I did get to see the latest Harry Potter and enjoyed it by and large. There were things I raised an eyebrow to - but how do you cram all of a book into a movie anyway...
On Sunday I saw Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders which was okay, not brilliant, maybe it wasn't worth the amount that they charged......My personal feeling is that Dawn French is a much funnier comedian than Jennifer Saunders. Others may disagree with this and that's ok. I would've loved to have heard actual stand-up material.....there was a lot of scripted skits which were funny, but I would've liked to have heard some less scripted sounding ideas.
Since last week work has been hectic......my interns are getting there. One is very, very good and the other is earnest.......she will get better - I hope.
The good stuff - I did a couple of workshops with a great Choir director and learnt a few things. I heard an amazing lecture from a band director about leading an ensemble - and how this applies to your teaching etc. But I did an amazing workshop with a regular teacher from the other side of Melbourne which focused on ways to teach improvisation. It was fab.
Whilst I gave up 90% of my weekend I did get to see the latest Harry Potter and enjoyed it by and large. There were things I raised an eyebrow to - but how do you cram all of a book into a movie anyway...
On Sunday I saw Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders which was okay, not brilliant, maybe it wasn't worth the amount that they charged......My personal feeling is that Dawn French is a much funnier comedian than Jennifer Saunders. Others may disagree with this and that's ok. I would've loved to have heard actual stand-up material.....there was a lot of scripted skits which were funny, but I would've liked to have heard some less scripted sounding ideas.
Since last week work has been hectic......my interns are getting there. One is very, very good and the other is earnest.......she will get better - I hope.
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